Find out how popular the last name Dimsdale is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Dimsdale.
An English habitational surname referring to someone from Dimsdale, a parish in Shropshire.
Dimsdale, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Dimsdale surname is from the 2010 census data.
Dimsdale is the 59742nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Dimsdale surname appeared 338 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Dimsdale.
We can also compare 2010 data for Dimsdale to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 59742 | 57544 | 3.75% |
| Count | 338 | 331 | 2.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.12 | -8.70% |
The surname Dimsdale has English origins and is believed to have derived from a place name. It likely originated in the medieval period, though its precise roots are unclear. One theory suggests it comes from the Old English words 'dim' meaning 'dim' or 'dark' and 'dæl' meaning 'valley', referring to a dimly lit valley or shaded dale. Another possibility is that it stems from a place called 'Dimsdale' or a similar spelling variation.
While no definitive early records mention the Dimsdale name itself, some of the earliest documented examples appear in the 16th century. A John Dymsdale was listed in Stratford in 1583, and a Thomas Dimsdale resided in Lancashire in 1594. These spellings suggest the name may have evolved from variants such as Dymsdale or Dimsdall.
In the 17th century, the name became more widespread, with records showing Dimsdales residing in various parts of England. One notable figure was Thomas Dimsdale (1638-1719), an English banker and Member of Parliament for Hertford. Another was Sir Robert Dimsdale (1670-1758), a successful London merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1748.
The 18th century saw the rise of several prominent Dimsdales. Baron Thomas Dimsdale (1712-1800) was a renowned English physician who introduced smallpox inoculation to Russia and treated Empress Catherine the Great. His son, also named Thomas Dimsdale (1762-1825), followed in his father's footsteps as a physician.
In the 19th century, Nathaniel Dimsdale (1798-1857) was a respected English banker and politician who served as Governor of the Bank of England from 1848 to 1857. Another notable figure was Charles Robert Dimsdale (1824-1900), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on church history and theology.
While the Dimsdale name has spread globally, its origins remain firmly rooted in England, with many early bearers hailing from counties like Lancashire, Hertfordshire, and London. Though its exact etymology may be uncertain, the surname has left a lasting mark throughout British history.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Dimsdale.
The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Dimsdale was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 94.97% | 321 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
| Hispanic Origin | 2.66% | 9 |
Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.
Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Dimsdale has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.97% | 96.98% | -2.09% |
| Black | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | 2.66% | 2.42% | 9.45% |
The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.
The history and meaning of the name Dimsdale was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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